Gas-generator.



N. GOODYEAR.

GAS GENERATOR.

I APPLICATION FILED O0T..24, 1906. 93 1 ,293, Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHBETSSHBET 1.

N. GOODYEAR.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 001?, 24, 1906 981393 Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

ventor:

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N. GOODYEAR.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 24, 1906.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

1 n mj o .m a M 1 km W MW and State of New York,

tam new and useful Improvements in Ga s-- ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON GOODYEAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO I. B. COLT COMPANY,v OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1900.

To all! whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON GOODYEAR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county,

have invented cer- (irenerators, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates togas generators, more especially to apparatus for generating acetylene gas, and the objects of the invention are to improve upon-the construction of such generators, render them certain and efficient in operation and provide'for the safety of the apparatus at all times and under all circumstances, thereby preventing accidents in use.

Another object of the invention is to enable the generator to be flushed out and charged with water and carbid without admittin air to said tank, and to make the admission of air to the tank or an escape of gasfrom the tank impossible. I

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appcaryand to these ends the invention consists of a generator for carrying out the above objects embodying the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts havin the general mode of operation substantia 1y as herein after fully described and claimed in this specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of apparatus embodyin the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detai? top plan view partly in section showing the flush out; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation partly in section ofthe hopper and carbid feeding mechanism; Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section of the line m-y of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail elevational end View of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is'a detail elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail elevation of the hopper and valves partly in section; Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and '13 are detail views partly in section illustratin l the relative positions of the valvesin t e hopper; Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail elevational view partly in section of the flush out; Fig. 15 is'a detail longitudinal elevation partly in section taken through the flush out valve.

Referring to the drawings, the generator an arm d loosethereon having .tank A is provided with a suitable carbid hopper B supported upon the neck C, and in the hopper is arranged suitable carbid feedin mechanism, in this instance shown as a va ve D, moving in a protective casing E, while between the casing and the valve is a stop F which is raised by the valve D after the valve is raised and which seats itself before the valve is seated; Any other suitable form of valve may be provided if desired.

The valve D is adapted to be controlled by the gas pressure in the gasometer G, which, as shown, is provided with a rising and falling gas bell H and suitable operative connections are provided between the gas bell and the valve for operating said valve. In this instance the arm a is connected to *be operated by the rock shaft 6. When the shaft 1) is rocked in one direction the valve D will be raised, and when the shaft is released the valve will fall by its own weight. The arm a is suitably connected to the rock shaft 6, in this instance a squared portion being provided upon the rock shaft, which is thrust through the end The rock shaft b extends of the lever. through a stuffing box 0 and is provided with a bearing 6 in which is supported a small rock shaft f. Suitably secured to the rock shaft f is a latch 9 adapted to codperate with a hook h, secured fast to therock shaft 6 in any suitable manner by means of the hub 2'. A spring 1' securedto the latch g and also to projection is on the'arm 0! holds the latch normally in engagement with the hook so that downward movement of the arm of will rock the shaft 1). The other end of the rock shaft 7 is provided with a finger, 1 secured fast thereon and projecting over a stop m projecting from the casing, so that at the downward limit of the movement of the arm (Z the finger Z will engage the stop m and rock the shaft f, thereby releasing the latch g from the hook h, and rock shaft 6 to rotate and close the valve D in the hopper. The arm d as shown is snitably connected to a rod 0 pivoted to a link p, which is in turn pivoted to a bracket 9 on the gasometer bell H so that downward permitting the a movement of said bell will rock the shaft b and open the valve D, while upward movement of the gasometer bell H will permit the valve to close. Any other suitable chargin hook it may be brought into engagement with the latch g. In starting the apparatus I by slightly depressing the outer end of the arm 17 some carbid is then fed into the water and the generation of the gas causes the gasometer bell to rise, thereby bringing the atch 9 into engagement with the book 1:. automatically to enable the apparatus to operate thereaften.

The apparatus is so constructed that the generator may be flushed out and charged with water and carbid without admitting air to the generator tank, and the admission of air to the tank, or the escape of' gas from the tank, other than through the gas educting plipe, is impossible. As shown, the carbi opper-B is provided with an upper story or second hopper E; The upper section of the hopper is rovided with a carbid g valve F and a gas lock valve G is provide between the two portions B'and E of the hopper. Operative connections are provided between these two valves F and G, so constructed that both valves cannot be opened at the same time, be closed at the same time. When the carbid valve F is closed the gas lock valve G may be opened and vice versa, when the gas lock.

valve G is closed the carbid valve may be opened. According-to this construction the carbid valve F may be 0 ned to permit the feeding of carbid to the op er and the as lock valve G will be close automatica y,

thereby reventing the entrance of air or escap; o as from the tank. Afterzcarbid has en ed to the hop er E, the carbi'd valve Fmay be closed an the gas lock valve G may be left closed, or else it may be opened to permit the carbid to pass from the portion E to the portion B of the hopper. Valves F and G are tied together b operative connections in such manner t at the movement of the' valves takes place as described.

Any suitable valves may be provided for the hopper, in this instance rotary plug valves being shown, comprising the plugs r and 8, provided with the valve apertures t and u. These pllugs r and s are connected to shafts of spin es v and w, which are provided at their, outer ends with gear wheels 4:. and y loose thereon, meshing with worms 2 and 3 carried by the vertical shaft 4 provided with the operating handle 5.- Any other suitable connections may be provided for operating the valves F and G, but the connections have shown are suitable and convenient. Fast on the shafts 'v and w, adjacent the cars a: and y, are disks 6 and 7 provided with notches 8 and 9 respectively.

although both may" disks 6 an Suitably supported from the portions E'- and B of the hopper are brackets 10 and 11 forming bearings for the shafts 'v and w, and also provided with cam slots 12 and 13 respectively. Suitably pivoted to the .gears :10 and y, as by means of pins 14 and 15 are pawls 1 6 and 17 having hooked ends 18 and 19 respectively adapted to cotiperate with the notches 8 and 9 ,in the disks 6 and 7. The pawls 16 and 17 are also provided with small outwardly projecting studs or pins 20 and 21 which form followers adapted to move in the cam slots 12 and 13 respectively when the gear wheels at: and y are rotated. Stationary cam slots 12 and 13 respectively are so positioned in the brackets 10 and 11 and the pawls 16 and 17 are so positioned on the gear wheels :0 and 3 that the pawl 16 for the carbid valve F may be rotated from its initial. position as indicated in Fig. 8

when the valve is closed through a quarter.

of a revolution or 90 degrees without moving said valve, While atv the same time the pawl.17 for the gas lock valve G is in engagement with the disk 7 and has rotated said disk through a quarter of a revolution or 90 degrees, thereby rotating the spindle w of the gas lock valve G through the same angle andturning said valve from open to closed position. I

Figs8 and 9 illustrate theposition of the valves F and G and the valve operating mechanisms when the valve F is closed and the valve G is opened. The movement of the handle 5 to rotate the gears w and y through a quarter of a revolution moves the valve operating mechanisms from the positions indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 to those indicated in Figs. 10 and 11 throu h a quarter of a revolution, in which case 0th 7 valves F and G will be closed. As the gears m and y are rotated through the next 90 degrees, the valve F will be opened while the valve G will remain closed, thereby forming a gas lock while carbid is being charged into the hopper E. In order to accomplish these movements the cam slots 12 and 13 are provided with high and low portions so that as e .the pawls 16 and 17 are carried around by the gears the studs or pins 20 and 21 follow the high and low portions of the slots and at the proper points in the movement of the 7 the hooked ends 18 and 19 are automatically raised out of engagement with the notches 8 and 9 in said disks, thereby releasing the pawls 16 and 17 respectively and stopping the movement of the valve 11 or G respectively. As shown, the pawl 16 starts from its initial position as indicated in Fig. 8 and having rotated through a quarter of a revolution the hooked end 18 engages thenotch 8 of disk 6 because the stud or pin 20 followingin the cam slot 12 carries said. hooked end into engagement with notch 8 as indicated in Fig. 10, and the disk 6 is rotated a quarter of a revolution into the position indicated in Fig. 12, thereby turning the valve from closed to open position. The pawl 17, starting from the position, indicated in Fig. 9, in which the hooked end of said pawl is in engagement with the notch 9 of disk 7, is rotated in the same direction as the pawl 16, but after a quarter of a revolution the stud or pin 21 rides on to the high rtion of the .cam slot 13, thereby carrying the hooked end 19 of the pawl out of engagement with the notch 9 of the disk 7 whlchleaves the valve G in closed position as indicated in Fig. 11. The further revolution of the geary through a quarter of a revolution carries the pawl 17 into the position indicated in Fig. 13 without moving the valve G. In the reverse movement of the pawls .16 and 17 a reverse series of operations takes place. The pawl 16 which starts in engagement with the disk 6 first turns the valve fromopen to closed position as indicated in Fig. 10 and then the pin or stud 20 on said pawl rides on to the high portion'of the cam slot 12, thereby raising the end of the pawl out of engagement with the notch 8 of the disk 6 leaving said valve F in closed position. The rotation of the pawl 16 through the next quarter of a revolution does not alfect. the valve. The reverse movement of the pawl 17 through the first quarter of a revolution carries the hooked end of the pawl into en gagement with the notch 9 of the disk 7 without moving the valve and then the further rotation of the pawl carries the valve from closed position as indicated in-Fig. 11 to open position as indicated in Fig.9.

In accordance with this invention the carbid charging valve F and the flush'out valve H are adapted to be opened and closed to gether automatically so that these two valves are both open or both closed at the same time. While any suitable operative connections may be provided between the valve operating meansfor the carbid charging valve and the fiush out valve, I have shown the shaft 4 extending downwardly and provided with another worm 22, meshing with the gear 23 loose on the spindle 24 of the flush out valve H. A similar arrangement of notched disk 25, pawl 27, and cam slot 28 is provided in connection with the valve H- whereby the movements of said valve follow the movements of the carbid chargin valve F, so that these valves are opened an closed at the same time. The object of having' the carbid charging valve and flushingout valve operate in this manner is to insure the flushing out of the machine when a new charge of carbid is being charged into the hopper El, while the gas lock valve G is closed to cut. oil communication between the two hoppers B and E. In this way the water and residuum in the machine may be flushed out without the entrance of air because no vent to atmospheric air for the tank A is provided, and provision is made for permitting the flushing out of the machine without venting it to the atmos here.

To insure. that the consistency of t 1e residuum is such that it may be flushed out readily agitator blades 29 are provided in the tank A carried by the shaft 30, suitably supported in bearings 31 and 32 and adapted to be operated by the shaft 4, any suitable connections, in this instance, a bevel gear 33 being provided on the shaft 4, meshin with a bevel gear 34 on the agitator sha 30. In order to seal the bearing 32 a suitable stutling box 35 is provided on said bearing. .During the time that the gas lock valve G is being closed and'the carbid charging valve opened, and while the flush out valve H is being opened, the agitator 29 is being operated to stir up the residuum. In order that air may not enter and gas may not escape through the flush out valve H, the valve casingis positioned at a point above the outlet 36. An overflow pipe 37 having an outlet 38 is shown connected to the casing of the flush out valve H and provided with a suitable vent 39 to prevent the siphoning of the machine, if the outlet '38 of the overflow should be connected by a pipe, as for in-' stance to the sewer. A suitable inlet pipe 40 for water is provided having valve 41 and operating'handle 42.

As the contents of-the tank A is flushed out, provision is made to permit gas which has been trapped in the gasometer H to ass over to the tank A and take the place 0 the water and residuum instead of permitting air to enter in the tank A. As water is charged into the tank A the gas therein passes back into the gasometer. The gas edu'cting pipe 14 passes from the tank A into the gasometer G and is provided withfa downwardly extending gas pipe 43 which passes through the partition into the gasometer. The service pipe 45- connects with the drain pipe 16 and the gas outlet pipe 17, which has a telescoping cap 48 provlded with gas apertures 49. The telescoping portion 48, as shown, is connected by means of the rods or chains 50 to the gasometer bell H and thus rises and falls with said bell. The gasometer bell H is guided on the central shaft 51 by means of the guiding sleeve 52 and suitable means are provided for preventing the bell from rotatmg about the axis of the shaft 51, in this instance a tubular u right 53 being provided extending-from t e partition 44, while a sleeve 54 connected to the gasometer bell H telescopes over the upright 53 and; is guided by the bracket 55 thus preventing the bell from turning and deran ing the carbid feeding)mechanism and alsoorming a telescopic low-oil. After all'the carbid has been used up in the hopper B and the gasometer bell H has sunk in the hopper B sufiicient gas will be trapped in the bell H above the water to substantially fill the generator tank A when the water and residuum have been flushed out. In order to accomplish this end, provision is afforded for the automatic closure of the gas pipe 47 in the gasometer when the bell has sunkto a predetermined distance. The telescoping tube 48 as shown 1s always water sealed and the gas openings 49 are so situated that when these openings are closed by simply pass down loosely through openings.

in the rod or plate 56. These chains or ro are provided with stops or balls 57 which engage the plate 56 and raise the telescoping cap 48 when gas is again generated in the generator.

The gasometer is preferably provided with a cock 75, by means of which the gasometer bell may be open to atmospheric air to permit the escape of air from the apparatus when the machine is first started.

In order to prevent accidents the feeding of carbid to the generator tank A should be prevented or made impossible when there is little or no water in the tank, and in order to afford this safeguard in the operation of the machine I have constructed the apparatus in such manner that the carbid valve 1) is automatically closed when the water falls slightly below-its normal level in the tank A. As shown, a float 58 is provided in the tank A suitably connected to the operating mechanism. of the carbid valve B so that as the float 58 falls the latch g is disconnected from the hook it of the valve mechanism. The float 58 is provided with downwardly extending rods 59 having a cross piece 60 to which is pivoted a vertical rod 61 assing upwardly through a water sealed s eeve o2 and connected at 63 to a cam 64 on the end of the rock shaft 11. The latch g is provided with a finger 65 bearing upon said cam and as the float 58 and rod 61 fall slightly the cam 64'is rotated, thereby pushing the finger 65 outwardly and carrying the end of the latch g away from the hook It, disengaging said connection and permitting the carbid valve 1) to fall and close the opening in the lower end'of the hopper B, thereby preventing the feeding of carbid until the water has again risen to its normal level. A suitable stop 7 0 is provided on the rod 61 and this stop has a washer of suitable material -71 connected thereto,which closes over the upper end of the sleeve 62 and prevents the entrance of air when the water unseals the lower end of the sleeve.

In order to further provide for the safety of the apparatus and guard against leakage in the gasometer, I provide the gasometer with a separate compartment 80 formed by the casing 81, which is connected to the walls of the gasometer tank G and is of suflicient size to accommodate the floats 82 and 83. The compartment 80 communicates with the upper chamber of the gasometer tank G as by means of the opening 88. The partition 44: is extended acrossthe chamber 80 and the lower portion of the chamber 80 communicates with the lower ,portion of the gasometer tank as by means of the ape-r tures 84 and 85, so that the water stands in the upper and lower portions of the chamber 80 on a level with the water in the corresponding portions of the gasometer tank G. The lower'portion of the gasometer tank beneath the partition 44 will be termed the gasometer trap. A vertical pipe'86 passes through the partition 44* in the chamber 80 and is suitably supported therein. Passing down through the pipe 86 is a rod 87 provided with a lower stop 88 and up er stop 89, while the lower float 83 isprovi ed with downwardly extending arms 90 adapted to bear against the stop 88 when the water level fall slightly below the normal, and thereb force the rod 87 downwardly. Said rod 87 is connected at its upper end to a bell crank lever 91 pivoted at 92 and connected atits other end to the rod 93 having a loose connection with an-arm 94 connected to the cam 64, so that the downward movement of the rod 87 rotates the cam 64- and throws the finger 65 outwardly to disconnect the latch g from the hook h and permit the carbid valve 1 to close. The upper float 82 is provided with upwardly extending arms 95 having portions 96 bearing over the stop 89 so'that feres with the operation of any of the others and each one operates independently of the others, although they may all operate at the same time if necessary since they all tend to move the cam (S t in the same direction.

In machines of very large size the total height of the generator tank and hopper may be suflicient to reach from one floor to the next floor, or from the round to the floor above, or a suitable plat orm which may be erected over the top of the generator. In Fig. 1, 67 represents the beam and 66 the floor or planking of the latform, as shown, in this instance arrange substantially on a level with the top of the generator, and

from this platform or floor the handle ma be convenlently operated and the hopper E may beconveniently charged with carbid. Another 0 crating handle 68 is provided above the fibor connected to a rod 69, which in turn is connected to operate with the arm 17, whereby said arm may be moved to operate the valve D.

I do not herein claim the combination of the generator tank and gasometer, with means for trapping an amount of gas in the gasometer sufiicient to fill the volumetric space-of the enerator tank when said tank is substantial y flushed out, since these features are claimed in my copending application Serial No. 328,874, filed Aug. 2, 1906.

Obviously some features of this invention may be used without others and the invenvention to the devices shown and tion ma be embodied in widely' 'varying forms, t erefore, without limiting the inescribed, and without enumerating equivalents, I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent the following 1. In a gas generator, the combination with the generator tank and stirrer, of a carbid charging device, and means for sistirrer while the car d charging device is being opened.

2. In a gas generator, the combination multaneously causing) the operation of the with the generator tank and stirrer, of a carbid charging device, and means for simultaneously causi the operation of the stirrer while the car id charging device is being opened or closed.

3.' In a gas generator, the combination with a generator tank and hopper, of a carbid charging device, a flushing out device, a gasometer, means for trapping gas in the asometer, means for returning said gas 0m the gasometer to the generator tank when flushing out, and means for preventing communication between the generator tank and that portion of the hopper into which carbid is charged when charging in carbid.

4. In a gas generator, the combination with a generator tank and gasometer, of

means for trapping gas in the gasometer, means for permitting said gas to enter the generator tank as said tank is flushed out, carbid charging and flushing out devices, means for opening said devices together, and means for closing communication between the generator tank and the outside air when flushing out or chargin in carbid.

In testimony whereo I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. NELSON GOODYEAR.

Witnesses:

E. VAN ZANDT, A. L. OBnmN. 

